Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Phoenix, AZ (2026)
4 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Phoenix, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
LAMC §41.18 Encampment Rule
Phoenix Code Chapter 23-48 prohibits camping or sleeping on public property in defined zones, including near schools, shelters, and parks. Adopted in 2024 after litigation over The Zone, the ordinance creates time and place limits.
Phoenix Camping Ordinance Limits Where People Can Sleep
Heavy RestrictionsSit-Lie Rules
Phoenix Chapter 23 bans obstructing sidewalks but the Ninth Circuit's Martin v. Boise decision prohibits punishing involuntary sitting or lying when no shelter is available, shaping how police enforce sit-lie rules across the city.
Phoenix Sit-Lie Rules Constrained by Martin v. Boise
Some RestrictionsEncampment Sanitation
Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions and Public Works run StreetWorks encampment cleanups to address human waste, biohazards, and trash. Outreach teams give 72-hour notice before sanitation operations and offer shelter and storage of personal property.
Phoenix StreetWorks Cleans Encampments Under Health Standards
Some RestrictionsBridge Housing Siting
Phoenix Bridge Housing program funds interim shelter beds at sites including the Human Services Campus and the Key Campus, operating under Arizona Department of Health Services shelter licensing and city zoning approvals.
Phoenix Bridge Housing Provides Interim Shelter With AZDHS Standards
Few RestrictionsLooking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Phoenix city rules.
Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Maricopa County →